January 09, 2016

Dan Bonar

Dan Bonar has been scouting in western Canada for years now. First he scouted in his native Manitoba before becoming a scout with the WHL Calgary Hitmen.

Bonar should know a thing or two about identifying a pretty good hockey player. After all, he once was one.

In the mid 1970’s he put up huge numbers in three years with his hometown Brandon Wheat Kings of WHL. He totaled 312 points in three seasons, including a 75 goal, 125 point final campaign.

Yet he remained undrafted by a NHL team, largely because of his diminutive size.

Undeterred Bonar joined the pro ranks first in the IHL where he was named rookie of the year and was an all-star. He used his speed and puck skills to make a name for himself.

That was enough for Bonar to sign with the Los Angeles Kings organization, though they may never have thought Bonar would play in the big leagues. They assigned him to the AHL for the next two seasons where he was a 30 goal scorer.

In 1980-81 Bonar made the Kings team out of training camp. He would play two full seasons, plus 20 games in the third campaign. A dislocated elbow cost him several months of action and ultimately his position with the Kings.

In total he scored 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 170 career NHL games. He showed some spunk with 208 penalty minutes.

Dan Bonar, a member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (class of 2007), played two more seasons at the AHL level before retiring and returning to Manitoba.

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